What should I be getting out of college?

[Morel Panic]

I've already heard about this whole "learning" thing. I'm actually looking forward to that... My question is really about how to live while at college. What should I (or anyone for that matter, you don't really have to address my situation specifically (it's kind of sad)) be doing besides having facts poured into my head? How is the whole social life thing supposed to work for introverts, especially in the first few weeks of school?

A little background on my personal situation: Upper middle class U.S. whitey going to typical big-ten university from a nice little upper middle class high school out in the suburbs (This whole 'diversity' at college thing is freaking me out). I'm naturally very good in all subjects, but I was head and shoulders above the rest of my high school in computer geekery. Moderatly good fitness, apperance, and high school grades. Very strongly INTP. I'm planning on Chemical(??) Engineering(?) but not sure. I really could go pretty much anyway on anything.

I just kind of want to hear what others have found worthwhile and wastewhile in college.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

Well supposedly there is supposed to be a good deal of promiscuity that goes on, although I missed out because I went to a small college and was an outcast (go figure) I also experienced a drinking party the first time in college, nothing special in my book...drinking is way too overrated. Good if its there's enough girls to take advantage of though, I only went to 2 parties though as I didn't enjoy drinking. Meeting stoners and almost getting girls(if I was a bit more solid in knowing more about myself and what situations I do better in at the time I would have done much better) was probably the most non-academically rewarding aspect for me. Oh yeah, almost forgot, great LAN Games going almost all the time. Counterstrike back then was the shit. Now I am going to a community college and it sucks for an introvert. Having roommates/dormmates kind of forces social interaction which can be pretty nice sometimes. I almost always had an open door policy when I was going to a school with a dorm. People usually didn't bother me anyway. I also got to deal with my first panic attack in college too. I wish I had known to get more help at the time. Didn't realize how seriously this affected me for a few years. dropped out for a few years.slow recovery. Really get to know people and know who you can trust. College kids are some of the biggest assholes on the planet. I still struggle with trust issues. Probably why I haven't made a new friend in over 3 years.

 

[Ermine]

Whatever you want, I presume. I'm also heading to college in a couple weeks. But the main things I'm expecting out of college are job expertise, learning, making new friends, reinventing myself, learning how to live away from my immediate family, and figuring out what's up with this custom humans do. It's called dating, I believe?

 

[flow]

Find some extroverted intuitive types and befriend them! I became besties with an ENFP and we went to party after party meeting people together, eventually I had more friends then I knew what to do with! Drinking is great fun, don't listen to debbie downer (ninja), just remember you'll act extroverted and say things you'll regret from time to time. Also, you'll end up getting sexual with people you'd never get sexual with while sober. So drink with caution. I recommend finding people who share some of the same interests as you and asking them what they're doing tonight/this weekend.
Always be open to going out, the more you socialize the easier it gets. Get to know people and be genuinely interested in what they're interested in, they'll reciprocate. I'd say the major key to making friends in college is openness to new experiences. When people say they want to go do something, say you're game! They'll eventually count on you to come with, and assuming you're not totally lamezzz, they might even yearn for your presence! Yeah! College is great man, I've met so many good people through it. Just look for intuitive people and try your damnedest to not be shy (alcohol helps with that).

Great Means to connecting with people: Music, Political and Religious conversation (tread carefully, but if you find you're agreeing there's no better way to solidify a friendship), and Current Events (read the news, I often tell people about something crazy going on in the world, it makes me seem interesting).

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

don't mind me, I haven't had my medication in awhile. I'm gonna have all kinds of post regret as soon as I get my hands on some.

 

[Mondorius]

I'm hoping for a date, and even though today was my first day, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at the fact that I didn't actually strike any conversations with the opposite sex gent today. Probably to be expected, but I've hardly ever felt so lonely.

To be honest, I think it might actually be better if I calmed down and took my time to approach people, like I used to. Although it did lead to people I wanted to know better leaving my life before I actually got acquainted with them. ( or getting intop a relationship with someone else T_T )

But because I'm so lonely and tend to act like I won at lottery whenever a girl seems to show interest in me and then proceed to become shy around her... and also because I'm not too sure on the whole "love" concept, I think I should take my time. Besides, it's simply not natural for me to approach people first and rush things, but I've been trying to be more "social". Not too successful with that yet...

EDIT: Damn you flow, posting while I was typing! But thank you! I'll try that. Although I'm not too keen on getting wasted, I don't mind drinking some.

 

[flow]

Drink beer. It's a slower drunk (you'll realize you're starting to get drunk in time to not get toooo drunk). There are lots of great different kinds of beer out there, so just keep buying different stuff until you find ones you particularly like. My favorites are Budweiser (Bud Light sucks), Keystone Light (economical and delicious), Rolling Rock (great summer beer), Guinness (expensive and filling, but fucking awesome), Sam Adams Original/Light (sophisticated and stuff), and Michelob Golden Light (one of my first loves as far as beer goes). Also, just discussing different beers/alcohols is a great party discussion topic in itself. I often find that when I bump into random people at parties, there's nothing easier than asking them what they're drinking and then either agreeing with their choice or pretending they're retarded. Either way, it's fun!

 

[Latro]

@Morel: If you're interested in chem, shoot me a PM. I'm going into my second year as a chem major and doing pretty well (and not intending to change majors either).

@others:
This thread is a little sad to me; the combination of being an INTx, living off-campus* and not being able to really touch alcohol or anything similar** makes it hard to do anything you guys are describing.

*Admittedly most students at my uni do; about 3/4 of the undergrads are off campus. So this isn't quite as bad as it sounds.
**Suffice it to say that I have a tendency towards addiction (genetic+general personality attributes), and have been psychologically (not physically) dependent on a prescription substance before (non-habit-forming my ass) and would not like to get back to that.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

@Latro, not sure if you are much into gaming but a lot of colleges have different groups and clubs. I am thinking about checking out the gaming club at the local community college I am going to at some point this semester. I'm not really sure what to expect and I hope its not lame. But there are things like that out there. I said it before but I'll say it again. Especially if you can't drink, most of the college kids at the parties and stuff are assholes anyway. Smaller parties may not be so bad but I'm not really sure what else to suggest to a chem-free college student. If there's any kind of a movie night or bowling night or something like that could be kind of fun.

 

[Latro]

@Latro, not sure if you are much into gaming but a lot of colleges have different groups and clubs. I am thinking about checking out the gaming club at the local community college I am going to at some point this semester. I'm not really sure what to expect and I hope its not lame. But there are things like that out there. I said it before but I'll say it again. Especially if you can't drink, most of the college kids at the parties and stuff are assholes anyway. Smaller parties may not be so bad but I'm not really sure what else to suggest to a chem-free college student. If there's any kind of a movie night or bowling night or something like that could be kind of fun.

I dunno if there is a gaming club of some sorts at my uni; if there is, I haven't heard about it (it's not on the official student activities list at least). I'd be interested in it if there was, though I imagine the most common choice would be FPSes (probably mostly COD4) which I'm not that fond of.

Maybe I'll put up signs to see if anyone wants to form an EVE corp with occasional RL meetings wherein we plan and play non-MMO games.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

you might even be able to start your own club if you have the courage to initiate something. I know its not something we INTP's are not the greatest at but who knows?

 

[Latro]

you might even be able to start your own club if you have the courage to initiate something. I know its not something we INTP's are not the greatest at but who knows?

Starting anything official requires you to have about 8 or so people initially. I don't even know 8 people outside my family enough to be able to contact them. Wouldn't necessarily need to be official, though.

Annoying thing for my EVE idea is that I don't have corp management skills yet...and they're fairly lengthy to train (probably about 10 days to be acceptable).

 

[Morel Panic]

Thanks all. Seems like very good advice.

I haven't started yet actually, I'm moving in this Thursday. But I'm a lot less insecure about failing miserably and screwing up my life now .